Friday, June 29, 2018

Szigeti out as tourism chief, 'tough love' for Honolulu homeless, media tour Halemaumau crater as Kilauea eruption persists, US EEOC sues HMSA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO George Szigeti © 2018 All Hawaii News
The Hawaii Tourism Authority board voted today to fire the agency’s president and CEO George Szigeti without cause. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Tourism Authority leader leaving amid growing scrutiny. The authority's board voted unanimously Thursday to terminate "without cause" George Szigeti, the authority's president and CEO for the past three years. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Tourism Authority leader on contract termination: 'I'm going to respect that decision'. KHON2.

Thursday marked the final Hawaii Tourism Authority board meeting for departing members Denise Yamaguchi, Donna Domingo and Gerald de Mello. Pacific Business News.

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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Hawaii Medical Service Association for discriminating against a group of disabled workers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's largest health insurance provider is facing a class-action lawsuit after denying intermittent leave to employees with disabilities without discussing other options. Hawaii News Now.

HMSA, Hawaii's largest medical insurance provider, being sued for denying medical leave to employees. KHON2.

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Sex abuse victims from decades ago will have another chance to file claims. Gov. David Ige will not veto Senate Bill 2719, which means it will become law on July 9. Hawaii News Now.

Hirono Bill Aims To Strengthen Unions. Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono was joined by Democratic leaders a day after the Supreme Court ruled against organized labor to try to shore up membership. Civil Beat.

RIMPAC pursues interoperability. During this year’s Rim of the Pacific exercise, it’s possible for a Japanese soldier to work for an Australian battalion commander who works for a U.S. Marine Corps commander who works for an Australian task group commander who works for a Chilean maritime component commander. Star-Advertiser.

RIMPAC 2018 has officially begun — without a familiar face. China was originally invited to the exercise, until the nation militarized contested islands. Hawaii News Now.

25,000 Participants Arriving in Hawaii for 2018 RIMPAC. Maui Now.

Retired Adm. Harry Harris, former head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Oahu, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said. Star-Advertiser.

A new report released today by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism shows that Hawaii’s economy will grow at 1.7% per year between 2016 and 2045. Maui Now.

Hawaii’s economy, measured by real gross domestic product, will grow at 1.7 percent per year between 2016 and 2045, according to a new report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Mayor to introduce 'tough love' bills aimed at getting homeless people off sidewalks. Hawaii News Now.

Caldwell Wants To Make Sit-Lie Ban Islandwide At All Hours. The existing bans for sidewalks in business areas are insufficient to address public homelessness, the Honolulu mayor said. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is proposing two new bills that redoubles the city’s efforts to clear the homeless and others off city sidewalks. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is ramping up efforts to clear the homeless from the sidewalks. He's asking the city council to approve to new bills that would expand the sit-lie ban across Oahu. KHON2.

New rules keep affordable housing affordable in Kakaako. KHON2.

Governor Approves HCDA Affordable Housing Rules. Governor David Ige approved new rules today to guide future development in Kakaako. Hawaii Public Radio.

The 15 cent bag fee goes into effect this Sunday. Unless you want to fork over the extra change at check-out, make sure to bring your own bag. KHON2.

There is a proposal to increase fares for the Honolulu city bus and TheHandi-Van. The Honolulu Rate Commission says fares should go up 25 cents in the beginning of next year. KHON2.

The police are offering a different kind of service in Chinatown: Health care. Hawaii News Now.

More enforcement coming to the Fourth of July Waikiki 'floatilla'. KITV.

Former cop admits to staging burglary and burning own car. Former Honolulu police officer Travis E. Copeland pleaded guilty in state court today to two counts of insurance fraud. Star-Advertiser.

Buzz’s Original Steak House in Pearl City will not reopen following a forced shutdown due to health code violations earlier this month. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Volcano park’s future 'a huge unknown'. Halemaumau Crater at the Kilauea summit is double its former size and continuing to expand at a rate unseen in modern times, according to scientists who accompanied journalists to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park today. Star-Advertiser.

Summit’s unprecedented change, volcanic activity to engross scientists for years to come. Tribune-Herald.

Inside the park at Waldron Ledge, officials gave a comprehensive update on Kilauea Volcano and the status of the National Park. Big Island Video News.

Drastic changes at summit reshape future of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. KHON2.

Kilauea eruption changes much: landscape, park operation, science's understanding. KITV.

PHOTOS: Take a tour of Kilauea's dramatically changed summit. Hawaii News Now.

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Big Isle tourism drop-off raises concerns. Tourism numbers were up statewide in May, but the Hawaii island market is finally showing the softening that the visitor industry has been dreading since the Kilauea eruption began May 3. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island tourism numbers remained reasonable through the month of May, but it will be June and the summer months to follow that tell the tale of Kilauea volcano’s true impact on the county’s most lucrative industry. West Hawaii Today.

Spending increases offset drop in Big Island arrivals last month. Pacific Business News.

Tallying The Growing Cost Of A Multimillion-Dollar Eruption. Taxpayers have spent nearly $10 million, not counting damage to roads and parks. The value of private property lost, damaged or isolated is $372 million. Civil Beat.

Sen. Mazie Hirono successfully included a provision in the 2018 Senate Farm Bill that would allow volcano-impacted farmers to retroactively apply for coverage under the Non-insured Crop Assistance Program. Big Island Now.

Police: Persistent claims about looting are mostly just rumors. Tribune-Herald.

Fresh lava continues to block Kapoho residents from entering their homes. Star-Advertiser.

Mental Health Is Another Casualty In The Ongoing Volcanic Eruption. The state health department is staffing shelters and opening clinics to help people affected by the disaster. Civil Beat.

Supreme Court overturns gag order in case of child who died in foster care. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Licensees critical of liquor department, panel. Testifiers cite fear of retribution, changing rule interpretations; audit is underway. Maui News.

Visitors to Maui County spent a total of $403.1 million in May 2018, an increase of 13.7 percent compared to last year, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

With their contract with the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa set to end, union members from Unite Here! Local 5 are joined by retirees and supporters for a sign-waving event along Honoapiilani Highway in Lahaina near the Lahaina Cannery Mall on Wednesday afternoon. Maui News.

Kauai

Tourism reaching new heights on Kauai. Despite a flooding disaster in April that devastated much of Kauai’s North Shore, tourists kept coming. Garden Island.

Resurfacing continues through the summer near the Coco Palms corridor. Garden Island.


Molokai

Molokai residents are on high alert after a coqui frog was discovered in Kalae on June 20. Hawaii News Now.

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